Chapter 4 — Bamboo Burning Brooch

You want to be a virtuous stepmother, then I will do it for you. At that moment, there was a sudden sound of arguing outside. Her mother's background was not as good as her previous wife's, so she was always afraid of gossip from her subordinates, and housekeeping was especially strict. Hearing the commotion, she immediately shouted and asked: "Who is out there making such noise? What kind of quarrel is there?" The maid heard the question and immediately ran out to inquire, and soon ran back in. "Madam, it's not good! People from the Princess Truong's Palace have come to the door. They said that this morning our Second Miss had a quarrel with Princess Vinh An, the two even fought with each other. Second Miss again. loudly said that she was the future wife of the Marquis of Vinh Ninh Palace. Now the people of Princess Truong's Palace came to tie up the Second Miss and take her away to be punished!" "What?" The mother widened her eyes in surprise: "Did you hear clearly? Did Thanh Ha fight with someone else?" No wonder my mother didn't dare to believe it. Everyone in the capital doesn't know that the second lady of the Lam family has a weak personality and is easily bullied. In the past, people only kicked and scolded me. There was no such thing as kicking people. Mother was angry and anxious, pointed straight at my face, choked up for a long time before asking: "What happened? Where did you go this morning?" I bowed my head, deliberately pretending to be scared. "I... heard that mother hasn't had a good appetite lately. I thought the cakes at the newly opened Ngu Thuc Trai in the city were very delicious, so I went there to buy some cakes for you." Interrupted and stole the cake." "I was suddenly angry, so I argued with her. She asked me if I knew who she was. I was afraid that she would use her status to pressure people, so I said that she was the wife of the Marquis of Vinh An Palace." "You..." Mother was so angry that she was speechless, pointing at me without knowing what to say. I originally had only one sense of filial piety, and it wasn't me who made the mistake first. It's just bad luck and you bump into people you shouldn't touch. Just when she was about to go out to deal with the people of Princess Truong's palace, she heard the maid rushing in. "Madam, it's not over! The princess of Ninh Vuong's palace has also come to the door. The speaker... said that our young lady intentionally seduced Ninh Vuong. This morning, she even used the excuse of going to the mountain to pray for blessings to secretly meet with the royal family. Now the princess insists that my family must give an explanation."In an instant, the mother's face turned pale without any trace of blood left. The Princess Palace Chief relied on the Queen Mother's favor to rampage across the capital. And Ninh Vuong is the younger brother of the current Emperor, famous for his style. The two families came to the door at the same time. One side accused the Lam family of fighting each other and causing trouble. One side accused the Lam family of seducing the royal family. Every job is enough to lose your head. Mother staggered back a step, glaring at me, her eyes were filled with both fear and suspicion, as if she wanted to swallow me alive. "Horror! Since when did you seduce Ninh Vuong?" I raised my head, my eyes red. "Mother, I am wronged. I have already explained the matter of Princess Vinh An just now. As for Ninh Vuong's residence... this morning I clearly went to Ngu Thuc Trai to buy cakes. The whole street can testify. I can't separate myself, how can I meet Ninh Vuong alone on the mountain?" One of my questions made my mother choke. She angrily shouted: "If it wasn't you, then who else could it be?" I gently reminded: "The Lam family is not the only one in the Lam family.

"There's also the eldest sister. The princess of Ninh Vuong's palace only said that the Lam family's lady seduced Ninh Vuong. It didn't say which lady. This morning I just had a fight with Princess Vinh An. If it wasn't me, then only the eldest sister would be left. Being reminded like that by me, the mother also thought about it, couldn't help but take a deep breath, turned her head to look at the elder sister's yard, then said with a serious face: "You stay here, don't go anywhere. I'm going to meet the people of the two palaces first." She walked very quickly. The hem of her skirt fluttered, blowing in a cold wind. I didn't listen to stay, but quietly followed. The front yard was now full of people. The princess's palace sent a neatly dressed mama, wearing the Princess Palace's badge on her waist, and behind her led four strong ladies. As for the Ninh Vuong palace, she sent a white, beardless eunuch, speaking softly, holding a gun in his hand. the scarf, was Cong Luu, the chief eunuch of Ninh Vuong's palace. Mother invited the two into the main hall. Although her expression had regained some composure, her trembling fingertips hidden in her sleeves still betrayed her. "Mother Trinh, Cong Luu." Mother bowed and bowed. "I don't know what the two gentlemen are calling for?" Mother Trinh smiled coldly, slightly raising her chin. "Lady Lam, this old slave obeys Princess Truong's orders. Come ask a question. Today, in front of Ngu Thuc Trai's door, the Second Miss of your palace dared to openly fight with the Princess Vinh An of the Princess Palace. How are you going to resolve this matter?" "Your Majesty is a golden branch and jade leaf. When he returned, his hair was disheveled and there were two scratches on his neck. The Queen Mother saw it and shed tears, saying that if the Lam family did not give an explanation, she would personally ask. "Mother's face became a little whiter. Just as she was about to open her mouth, Cong Luu slowly spoke, her voice was high-pitched. "Mother Trinh, take your time. Our matter is also urgent." "The princess sent us to ask a question. Today, which lady from your palace went to Dong Son with the Royal Family, drank a pot of tea at the Quan Am Temple, and even exchanged tokens?